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Friday, 27 December 2013

Building An All Weather Commuter

All season, all weather, all the time. That was a new
motto for me. The goal was to turn my inexpensive ride into an all weather
commuter to take me to work and back each day.

You can research and buy yourself
an expensive commuter bicycle but I think you can modify a basic mountain bike
into a machine that will fill the bill nicely. You just have to add the right
accessories.

First item to add is a rear rack.
Yes, you can wear a backpack, but it is better to attach your load directly to
the bike. Big reason is that it gives you a lower centre of gravity. It will be
easier to balance and easier to manoeuvre.
I also find that a backpack will restrict your ability to move freely. A
big one may even interfere with your ability to check traffic behind you.

Visibility is always important
and since this article is about riding under all conditions, lighting is
needed. The reflectors on most bikes are not enough. A proper bicycle taillight
is a must. I put mine on strobe or flash mode. There are riders who disagree
with doing this, but I find motorists tune it out if it isn’t flashing. The
headlight isn’t as important. You can purchase headlights but I go cheap and
just use a small led flashlight from the local dollar store attached to the
handlebars. If you can see where you’re going and you’re alert to vehicles
pulling out of driveways and parking lots or making left turns you’ll be just
fine with that. If there is any doubt whether a motorist sees you, stop and
wait. Stick to battery power for the lights. I haven’t seen a generator-powered
model that impresses me yet. In my experience, they are expensive and don’t
last. Even though this is a discussion about commuter bikes, it’s important to
remember to dress with being visible in mind as well.

Last recommended add on is
fenders. Some riders don’t like them. If you ride ten kilometres per hour or
slower or you don’t care whether you wear what’s on the road, do without. I
can’t afford to look like I’ve fallen into a mud puddle and then dragged
through a hedge backwards when I get to work. I bought some inexpensive ABS
quick release finders for my commuter and I love them.

As always the decision to ride
under these conditions is your own responsibility. This article is meant to
offer my own experiences on the subject and hope that it is helpful. Before
deciding to do this type of riding, I would strongly recommend seeking other
informed opinions before making your decision.